Ushuaia Hotels - Things to Do & Attractions
Things to Do in Ushuaia: Ushuaia Hotels travel guide on the best things to do in Ushuaia. Have a look below for more details on Ushuaia Attractions, restaurants, nightlife, bars, clubs, events and shopping.
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Top things to do and Attractions in Ushuaia:
On Beagle Channel, surrounded by water, sky and mountains, Ushuaia calls itself the End of the World. As the closest city to Antarctica, the city is a hub for Antarctic touring and navigating the Strait of Magellan. Cruise ships dock here for a quick onshore visit. Summer is ideal for trekking, horseback riding, mountain biking, sporting fishing and the most astounding tours along the Beagle Canal, Cape Horn and even the Argentine Antarctica.
1. Maritime Museum – Museo Maritimo:
Housed in the building that was once the presidio, or prison for notorious criminals and political prisoners, the museum displays model ships, archaeological artifacts, and collections of old-time Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego.
2. Wildlife Tours:
Tour De los Lobos for sealions, a seasonal trip to the penguin rookery, and Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, De los Pájaros Island, Bird Island, for many varieties of birds, and on to Martillo Island, where a rookery of Magellanic Penguins can be found in the summer.
3. Mare Australis Cruise
“Via Australis Expedition cruise will act as the Mare Australis new brother with same features. Both cruises will navigate the Magellan straight, the Beagle channel, Cape Horn, exploring one of the most beautiful virgin areas in the world, like the Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. There are two different choices, a 3 or a 4 night program from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas and viceversa, from September to April.”
4. Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego:
Tierra del Fuego National Park, founded in 1960, borders the Sierra de Injoo Goiyin, also called Beauvior, from Lago Fagnano in the north to the Beagle Channel on the southern edge. With ample opportunities for sports and recreation, including horseback riding, mountain biking, trekking and hiking, the southernmost part is scenic Lapataia Bay.
5. Tren al Fin del Mundo – Prisoner’s Train
This narrow gauge train at the end of the world was built to bring lumber from the forests to Ushuaia to build and heat the penal colony.
6. Hiking and Fishing in Lago Escondido and Lake Yehuin:
Hidden Lake at the foot of Garibaldi Pass and Lago Yehuin offer unparalled views and excellent camping, hiking and trekking opportunities.
7. Penguin Rookery and Harberton:
“From Don Eduardo Arturo Brisighelli pier, sailing southeast along Ushuaia Bay and the Beagle Channel you visit the Bridges Archipelago, especially Alicia Island, where it is possible to observe a great variety of birds typical of the region, like the Blue-Eyed Cormorant, the Sooty Albatross, the Skuas, the Steamer Duck, the alakush, etc.”
8. Estancia Viamonte / Estancia Harberton:
Plan a stay to experience the working farm life and visit “The oldest Estancia on Tierra del Fuego and the oldest house on the Argentine part of the island, it was built in 1886 on a narrow peninsula overlooking the Beagle Channel. Its founder, the missionary Thomas Bridges, was given the land by the Argentine Congress under President Roca for his work among the local indians and for his help in rescuing the victims of the numerous shipwrecks in the channel.”
Ice Breaker & Antarctica Tours to Cape Horn from Ushuaia, Argentina:
Ushuaia Hotels - Antarctica Tours
Between November and March it is possible to make your dream come true: visiting Antarctica.
Sailboat trips and cruises to the “White Continent” leave from the city of Ushuaia, located in the southern Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego (see map), covering more than 1200 km.
The trip usually takes 8 days but it may take 20 days if you wish to include Cape Horn, Sandwich, Orcadas, Georgia and Falkland islands
It is also possible to take a semi-circumnavigation route to end up in another continent, but several more weeks are needed. Along the way there are different beautiful places rich in marine fauna that can be reached by pneumatic boats. It is in those spots that activities take place making the most out of the Antarctic summer when there is sunlight almost all day long. Trips are always different because according to weather conditions only certain places are reachable and the fauna can be more or less varied and abundant.
While crossing the Drake strait, conferences on environment and the importance and characteristics of the destinations are given by scientists and naturalists. Once in the Antarctic region, there are stops to visit the bases of different countries: the Almirante Brown station as well as the British station which has become a museum
As the ship approaches the islands, you will be able to watch several species of penguins, seagulls, albatross, petrels and cormorants. Seals and sea elephants can also be seen resting on the shores or on top of the icebergs. Since everything in the Antarctic region requires special care and protection, it is forbidden to touch the animals.
Humpback whale watching is also of special interest and always thrills passengers sailing across the Gerlache strait. Bahía Paraíso, famous for its beauty, is also one of the favorite spots chosen by whales since its feeding grounds are rich in nutrients.
The ride along the narrow Newmayer and Lemaire channels is shocking due to the height of ice blocks, shaped into strange figures by the strong winds.
Ushuaia Hotels - Things to Do & Attractions - Icebreaker
Prices for tours to Antarctica depend on the length of the trip, the kind of ship and the location of the cabins. Options include small ice breakers with 30-40 passengers or larger vessels with 300 passengers. Traveling for 10 days in triple and quadruple cabins sharing toilets are about US$3000 per person.
There are also last-minute deals at discounted prices but you will have to take the chance to be left behind if someone else pays the full fare.
Trips include most on-board services, information material, tours and on board speeches given by scientists and naturalists. Rates do not include personal insurance, drinks, laundry, telephone calls or tips.
The official language on board is English. Ships are provided with excellent heating so it is recommended to wear light clothes except for walks where it is essential to have winter clothes, raincoat, sunglasses and skin protection.
Several sailboats offer custom trips including visits to Port Williams and Cape Horn, several scientific stations, old whale shelters, the Shetland and Deception islands. These sailboats have a capacity of 2 to 4 passengers and 4 weeks are required to cover the itinerary. Rates start at US$280 daily per person.
Some agencies also offer different activities other than the traditional walks or fauna watching. These include climbing, camping, kayaking, skiing, snowboarding, windsurfing and diving.
It is advisable that foreign passengers include a couple of days in the beautiful city of Ushuaia to take advantage of several outdoor and indoor options: the Tierra del Fuego National Park, the “End of the World Train” or the exquisite local spider crab meat. There are several cozy hotels overlooking the magnificent Beagle Channel.
About Antarctica
The Antarctic Continent is of great importance to the global community since many countries do research work and activities there. An ice sheet covering Antarctica makes it difficult to know its exact dimensions though it is estimated to be 14 million sq km without taking into account the islands and the frozen seas surrounding it. There is a vast sea area that lies between Antarctica and the rest of the continents: 1000 km to South America, 3000 km to Africa and 2000 km to Oceania.
Its climate is extremely cold, dry, windy and it hardly rains. There is almost no summer. The coldest temperature ever recorded was –89,3°C and winds reach 320 km/h with common blizzards and storms. There is very little flora and fauna: just lichens, moss, scarce plants and invertebrate arthropods.
In contrast, marine life supports abundant plankton due to the long periods of daylight. This is a rich source of food for animals such as penguins, seals, elephant seals, Antarctic pigeons, petrels, albatross, cormorants and seagulls.
Environmental Attitude
Since the ratification of the Protocol of Environmental Protection, Antarctica has been designated as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science. Its main value is that of being the only unspoiled source of information for a wide range of geophysical, geological and biological studies which are useful to all humankind.
Scientific activity might be seriously restricted unless its natural characteristics are well preserved from rising levels of pollution mainly caused by men. Antarctic land and marine environments are so vulnerable that special care must be given in order to preserve them.
The pioneers
It has been really a heroic deed what the first explorers experienced, considering the harsh weather, the risky journeys and the physical efforts they had to make. Maritime expeditions to Antarctica were a boom in 1911 and 1912 when the South pole was reached by Norwegian explorer Amundsen. Later in 1914, Shackleton tried to cross the Polar Plateau but his ship was trapped by the ice during the entire winter. The first aerial explorations were done in 1929 by an American called Byrd.
In 1942 Commander Oddera was in charge of the first expedition to carry out hydrographic, cartographic, biologic and geologic surveys. The first runway in Antarctica was built at Marambio station in 1969. It ended a long period of isolation since the only way to get there had been via maritime routes. The Antarctic explorers worked hard under harsh conditions: living in small tents, getting water to survive, eating canned food, struggling with loneliness.
Let´s keep their spirit alive by preserving Antarctica for the generations to come!
Tours
If you would like to book a trip, we recommend our partners at Antarctica Discover
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